INDIANAPOLIS - Pat Shurmur is not anticipating a letdown from the Giants even though they have been eliminated from playoff contention with two weeks left in the regular season.

His expectation for Sunday's game against the Colts is for his team to match the intensity and performance of a legitimate playoff contender.

"Let’s assume you have a finite number of games that you’re going to play as a football player. Let’s assume that. I don’t know why you would let down," Shurmur said. "On the rare occasion when you’re in the playoffs and that next game means nothing, I see resting guys, but in this case here, we’re coaches and players. We’re paid to play and it just so happens that our profession is our hobby. I don’t – I’ve never understood that. That’s part of the narrative that I don’t understand because as football players, coaches – sometimes you play poorly. We didn’t play well last week in some areas and we lost, but it wasn’t because we went in there and let down. I don’t get that."

Here's a look at how the Giants and the Colts match up:

Giants (5-9) at Colts (8-6)

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Sunday, 1 p.m.

TV: CBS

Line: Colts by 9.5

What's at stake

Giants: Pat Shurmur wants to win football games, and in his mind, that's a quest that runs parallel to worrying about auditioning players for 2019. Truth be told: the Giants are already playing a good number of rookies and young players, and that will continue, save for rookie QB Kyle Lauletta, whose status is uncertain with Shurmur not committing to having him as the backup against the Colts. The Giants are currently 8th in the 2019 draft order and could improve their standing with another loss.

Colts: Indianapolis has done a great job of rebuilding under Frank Reich, especially after the team announced Josh McDaniels as head coach this offseason, only to have to start over when McDaniels reneged and stayed in New England. The Colts are in strong position to claim an AFC wild card with their Week 17 showdown with the Titans shaping up as a possible win-and-in game for the No. 6 seed.

Key matchup

FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2018, file photo, Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Darius Leonard (53) reacts after forcing a turnover during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla. Leonard was disappointed when his name didn’t appear on the AFC’s Pro Bowl roster Tuesday night, Dec. 18, 2018. Now the league’s leading tackler intends to make all future opponents pay for the perceived snub. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)(Photo: The Associated Press)

Giants RB Saquon Barkley vs. Colts LB Darius Leonard: With 146 tackles and 99 solo tackles, Leonard is the favorite to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Barkley is the favorite to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, as he is currently third in the NFL in both rushing yards (1,155) and scrimmage yards (1,809). He has also set Giants rookie records for touchdowns (13), catches (82) and receiving yards by a running back (654). There promises to be a few times where Leonard meets Barkley in the hole, and what transpires will be worth watching.

How they'll win

Giants: The Giants are playing without two of their defensive leaders in S Landon Collins (out for the season, shoulder surgery) and LB Alec Ogletree (concussion protocol). OLB Olivier Vernon has 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble in the last three games, and his ability to bring pressure against Colts LT Anthony Castonzo will be imperative. There will also be more responsibility for ILB B.J. Goodson (9 tackles last week). They struggled mightily across the board with missed tackles against the Titans. In being shutout for the first time since last Christmas Eve, the Giants need a better overall performance in every facet. Barkley had difficulty getting going, but that was part of the inefficiency of the line and how the game played out in miserable weather more than his ability.

Colts: Andrew Luck has at least three touchdowns and at least a QB rating of 100 in five of his last six home games. He's a leading candidate for Comeback Player of the Year honors with 3,951 passing yards and 34 touchdowns. He had 354 pass yards and four touchdowns with zero interceptions for a 108.4 quarterback rating in his only career meeting against the Giants in 2014. RB Marlon Mack had 149 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns last week. He'll test the Giants, who were shredded by the Titans' Derrick Henry. WR T.Y. Hilton will once again be a game-time decision. He was able to go against the Cowboys and finished with 85 yards receiving. Rookie LG Quenton Nelson has been a force in the run and pass game. On defense, Leonard's been outstanding, but he's not alone. DL Denico Autry has 6 sacks, 6 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles in his past three games.